Genealogy of Northeast Pennsylvania

Mayfield Borough


The following is quoted from Thomas Murphy's 1928 History of Lackawanna County . 1 (Remember that references to now or today refer to 1928 and do not necessarily reflect life in 2003.)

 

Mayfield was erected as a borough in 1891. It was carved out of Carbondale Township which had been created in 1831. The borough adjoins Jermyn and these municipalities are commonly referred to as the twin boroughs. Originally the name was Glenwood, the village clustering about the works of the Glenwood Coal Company. For a time it was called Mayville. At the suggestion of the postal authorities this was changed to Mayfield. The name was bestowed in recognition of the part played in its development by Captain William A May, when manager of the Hillside Coal & Iron Company operations. Mining is the chief industry.

A great part of the land in Mayfield was owned at one time by Thomas Meredith, grandson of Samuel Meredith, first treasurer of the United States under the constitution. The Meredith mansion, built by Thomas Meredith a hundred years or so agom was in Childs, just adjoining Mayfield. The mansion, later a hotel and then a bottling establishment, burned a few years ago.

Mayfield's development dates from about 1880. Among the early settlers were Stephen Whitmore, Thomas M Hart, Thomas Green, E F Edmunds, John Grady, M G Neary, William A Walker, A Neal, E Roberts, L W Corrigan and David Mendelsohn. In recent years groups of foreign speaking people, many Russians among them, located in the borough, and today [1928] represent a majority or more of the population. They dominate in business and control civil afairs. This group has several fine churches. Recognition of the strength of the foreign element was extended some years ago when Alexander Schlanto was made postmaster.

Dissatisfaction with the conduct of affairs in Carbondale Township prompted the move to bring about the erection of the borough in 1891. Thomas Green was the first burgess. M G neary, a pioneer merchant, was the first postmaster. Among those active in the development of Mayfield was Stephen Whitmore, who owned considerable land in the borough. For many years he was a contractor buildre. He was among those who helped in having the borough incorporated. Mr Whitmore died last year. Patrick Bergen was the first tax collector. The borough hall was erected in 1910.

Thomas A Hart established his mercantile establishment in Mayfield in 1884 and continued to live there until his death. His son Major John Hart is now president of the Mayfield Bank, whose new home was opened for business in 1923. David Mendelsohn located in East Mayfield in 1887. Early foreign settlement was chiefly in East Mayfield.

The New York, Ontario & Western and Delaware & Hudson lines tap Mayfield. The railroad yard of the former is at Childs and gives employment to many men of the borough. The power plant and car barn of the Carbondale & Mayfield Traction Company was early located in Mayfield. Street car service connects Mayfield with Carbondale and the midvalley. The Glenwood, Hillside, and Keystone collieries operate within borough limits.

Roman Catholics in Mayfield, other than those of foreign speaking congregations, attend services in Sacred Heart Church, Jermyn. In 1888 a Catholic Church, St Phillip, was planned in Mayfield. A plot had been secured and the corner stone laid when Rev M E Lynott, who that year became pastor at Jermyn, prevailed on Bishop O'Hara to consolidate St Phillip's with Sacred Heart congregation, all to worship in one church in Jermyn. This was the wise course resulting in one strong parish with a centrally located church instead of two small ones.

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Notes

  1. Murphy, Thomas, Jubilee History Commemorative of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Creation of Lackawanna County Pennsylvania, Volume I , Topeka, Indianapolis: Historical Publishing Company, 1928.
Modified Sunday, 27-Jun-2004 19:41:12 MDT